Upon review, the 2012 Volkswagen GTI Coupe Hatchback is a higher performance version of the original VW Golf hatchback. Featured in either the 2 or 4 door body styles, there are two trim levels available to choose from, Base and Autobahn. There are only minor differences between the two trim levels as detailed below as per our review.

The Base version review of the GTI comes standard with alloy 18-inch wheels, heated outside mirrors, rear spoiler, sport suspension, fog lights, full power components, leather steering wheel with tilt and telescoping, A/C, heated front seats, cloth upholstery, an eight-speaker sound system, CD player, satellite radio, split-folding rear seats, Bluetooth, and iPod use availability. You can also opt in for special additions such as the sunroof package which gets you a sunroof, in-dash CD changer, stereo touchscreen interface, and steering wheel controls. You'll also notice a change with your LED running headlights, and xenon headlamps upon closer review.

If you opt to upgrade to the exclusive Autobahn trim, you'll receive bigger wheels of 18 inches, leather seating, key less entry and ignition, and a premium sound system upgrade which was highly reviewed.

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI Coupe Hatchback comes standard with a six speed manual transmission powering the 2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine. Total horsepower amounts to 200, with 207 pounds of torque based on review. If you live in a strict emissions state, you can opt in for the PZEV version of the same engine size. You can also upgrade the transmission to become a dual-clutch automated manual, also known as a DSG. Based on review, these types of transmissions act like a standard automatic, but can instead be shifted manually by using the shift lever or shift paddle on the steering wheel.

Fuel economy for the standard manual transmission on the Volkswagen GTI Coupe Hatchback came in at a modest 21 city and 31 highway for a total rating of 25 altogether. Your gas mileage will become slightly improved with the DSG transmission coming in at 24 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. In terms of speed with this engine, you can expect it to take you 7.3 seconds from the starting line to reach 60mph. According to reviews, this is slightly longer then it takes competing models to reach the same mark.

Earning a top review rating of Good from the IIHS, the 2012 Volkswagen GTI Coupe Hatchback is a safe vehicle to own. Coming standard on both trim models are the traction control features, anti-lock disc brakes, and front and side airbags.